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Yang C, Liu G, Chen X, Le W. Cerebellum in Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases: an emerging research frontier. MedComm (Beijing) 2024; 5:e638. [PMID: 39006764 PMCID: PMC11245631 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The cerebellum is crucial for both motor and nonmotor functions. Alzheimer's disease (AD), alongside other dementias such as vascular dementia (VaD), Lewy body dementia (DLB), and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), as well as other neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) like Parkinson's disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Huntington's disease (HD), and spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA), are characterized by specific and non-specific neurodegenerations in central nervous system. Previously, the cerebellum's significance in these conditions was underestimated. However, advancing research has elevated its profile as a critical node in disease pathology. We comprehensively review the existing evidence to elucidate the relationship between cerebellum and the aforementioned diseases. Our findings reveal a growing body of research unequivocally establishing a link between the cerebellum and AD, other forms of dementia, and other NDs, supported by clinical evidence, pathological and biochemical profiles, structural and functional neuroimaging data, and electrophysiological findings. By contrasting cerebellar observations with those from the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, we highlight the cerebellum's distinct role in the disease processes. Furthermore, we also explore the emerging therapeutic potential of targeting cerebellum for the treatment of these diseases. This review underscores the importance of the cerebellum in these diseases, offering new insights into the disease mechanisms and novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cui Yang
- Institute of Neurology Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital School of Medicine University of Electronic Science and Technology of China Chengdu China
| | - Guangdong Liu
- Institute of Neurology Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital School of Medicine University of Electronic Science and Technology of China Chengdu China
| | - Xi Chen
- Institute of Neurology Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital School of Medicine University of Electronic Science and Technology of China Chengdu China
| | - Weidong Le
- Institute of Neurology Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital School of Medicine University of Electronic Science and Technology of China Chengdu China
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Magalhães TNC, Hicks TH, Jackson TB, Ballard HK, Herrejon IA, Bernard JA. Sex-steroid hormones relate to cerebellar structure and functional connectivity across adulthood. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.24.600454. [PMID: 38979355 PMCID: PMC11230255 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.24.600454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Aging involves complex biological changes that affect disease susceptibility and aging trajectories. Although females typically live longer than males, they have a higher susceptibility to diseases like Alzheimer's, speculated to be influenced by menopause, and reduced ovarian hormone production. Understanding sex-specific differences is crucial for personalized medical interventions and gender equality in health. Our study aims to elucidate sex differences in regional cerebellar structure and connectivity during normal aging by investigating both structural and functional connectivity variations, with a focus on investigating these differences in the context of sex-steroid hormones. The study included 138 participants (mean age = 57(13.3) years, age range = 35-86 years, 54% women). The cohort was divided into three groups: 38 early middle-aged individuals (EMA) (mean age = 41(4.7) years), 48 late middle-aged individuals (LMA) (mean age = 58(4) years), and 42 older adults (OA) (mean age = 72(6.3) years). All participants underwent MRI scans, and saliva samples were collected for sex-steroid hormone quantification (17β-estradiol (E), progesterone (P), and testosterone (T)). We found less connectivity in females between Lobule I-IV and the cuneus, and greater connectivity in females between Crus I, Crus II, and the precuneus with increased age. Higher 17β-estradiol levels were linked to greater connectivity in Crus I and Crus II cerebellar subregions. Analyzing all participants together, testosterone was associated with both higher and lower connectivity in Lobule I-IV and Crus I, respectively, while higher progesterone levels were linked to lower connectivity in females. Structural differences were observed, with EMA males having larger volumes compared to LMA and OA groups, particularly in the right I-IV, right Crus I, right V, and right VI. EMA females showed higher volumes in the right lobules V and VI. These results highlight the significant role of sex hormones in modulating cerebellar connectivity and structure across adulthood, emphasizing the need to consider sex and hormonal status in neuroimaging studies to better understand age-related cognitive decline and neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thamires N C Magalhães
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Tracey H Hicks
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - T Bryan Jackson
- Vanderbilt Memory & Alzheimer's Center, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Hannah K Ballard
- Department of Psychological Sciences, William Marsh Rice University, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Ivan A Herrejon
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jessica A Bernard
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Psychological Sciences, William Marsh Rice University, Houston, Texas, United States of America
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Magalhães TNC, Maldonado T, Jackson TB, Hicks TH, Herrejon IA, Rezende TJR, Symm AC, Bernard JA. Non-invasive neuromodulation of cerebello-hippocampal volume-behavior relationships. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.29.587400. [PMID: 38617367 PMCID: PMC11014496 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.29.587400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
The study here explores the link between transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and brain-behavior relationships. We propose that tDCS may indirectly influence the complex relationships between brain volume and behavior. We focused on the dynamics between the hippocampus (HPC) and cerebellum (CB) in cognitive processes, a relationship with significant implications for understanding memory and motor skills. Seventy-four young adults (mean age: 22±0.42 years, mean education: 14.7±0.25 years) were randomly assigned to receive either anodal, cathodal, or sham stimulation. Following stimulation, participants completed computerized tasks assessing working memory and sequence learning in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) environment. We investigated the statistical interaction between CB and HPC volumes. Our findings showed that individuals with larger cerebellar volumes had shorter reaction times (RT) on a high-load working memory task in the sham stimulation group. In contrast, the anodal stimulation group exhibited faster RTs during the low-load working memory condition. These RT differences were associated with the cortical volumetric interaction between CB-HPC. Literature suggests that anodal stimulation down-regulates the CB and here, those with larger volumes perform more quickly, suggesting the potential need for additional cognitive resources to compensate for cerebellar downregulation. This new insight suggests that tDCS can aid in revealing structure-function relationships, due to greater performance variability, especially in young adults. It may also reveal new targets of interest in the study of aging or in diseases where there is also greater behavioral variability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thamires N. C. Magalhães
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Ted Maldonado
- Department of Psychology, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, United States of America
| | - T. Bryan Jackson
- Vanderbilt Memory & Alzheimer’s Center, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Tracey H. Hicks
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Ivan A. Herrejon
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Thiago J. R. Rezende
- Department of Neurology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Abigail C. Symm
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jessica A. Bernard
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
- Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
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Arleo A, Bareš M, Bernard JA, Bogoian HR, Bruchhage MMK, Bryant P, Carlson ES, Chan CCH, Chen LK, Chung CP, Dotson VM, Filip P, Guell X, Habas C, Jacobs HIL, Kakei S, Lee TMC, Leggio M, Misiura M, Mitoma H, Olivito G, Ramanoël S, Rezaee Z, Samstag CL, Schmahmann JD, Sekiyama K, Wong CHY, Yamashita M, Manto M. Consensus Paper: Cerebellum and Ageing. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2024; 23:802-832. [PMID: 37428408 PMCID: PMC10776824 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-023-01577-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Given the key roles of the cerebellum in motor, cognitive, and affective operations and given the decline of brain functions with aging, cerebellar circuitry is attracting the attention of the scientific community. The cerebellum plays a key role in timing aspects of both motor and cognitive operations, including for complex tasks such as spatial navigation. Anatomically, the cerebellum is connected with the basal ganglia via disynaptic loops, and it receives inputs from nearly every region in the cerebral cortex. The current leading hypothesis is that the cerebellum builds internal models and facilitates automatic behaviors through multiple interactions with the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia and spinal cord. The cerebellum undergoes structural and functional changes with aging, being involved in mobility frailty and related cognitive impairment as observed in the physio-cognitive decline syndrome (PCDS) affecting older, functionally-preserved adults who show slowness and/or weakness. Reductions in cerebellar volume accompany aging and are at least correlated with cognitive decline. There is a strongly negative correlation between cerebellar volume and age in cross-sectional studies, often mirrored by a reduced performance in motor tasks. Still, predictive motor timing scores remain stable over various age groups despite marked cerebellar atrophy. The cerebello-frontal network could play a significant role in processing speed and impaired cerebellar function due to aging might be compensated by increasing frontal activity to optimize processing speed in the elderly. For cognitive operations, decreased functional connectivity of the default mode network (DMN) is correlated with lower performances. Neuroimaging studies highlight that the cerebellum might be involved in the cognitive decline occurring in Alzheimer's disease (AD), independently of contributions of the cerebral cortex. Grey matter volume loss in AD is distinct from that seen in normal aging, occurring initially in cerebellar posterior lobe regions, and is associated with neuronal, synaptic and beta-amyloid neuropathology. Regarding depression, structural imaging studies have identified a relationship between depressive symptoms and cerebellar gray matter volume. In particular, major depressive disorder (MDD) and higher depressive symptom burden are associated with smaller gray matter volumes in the total cerebellum as well as the posterior cerebellum, vermis, and posterior Crus I. From the genetic/epigenetic standpoint, prominent DNA methylation changes in the cerebellum with aging are both in the form of hypo- and hyper-methylation, and the presumably increased/decreased expression of certain genes might impact on motor coordination. Training influences motor skills and lifelong practice might contribute to structural maintenance of the cerebellum in old age, reducing loss of grey matter volume and therefore contributing to the maintenance of cerebellar reserve. Non-invasive cerebellar stimulation techniques are increasingly being applied to enhance cerebellar functions related to motor, cognitive, and affective operations. They might enhance cerebellar reserve in the elderly. In conclusion, macroscopic and microscopic changes occur in the cerebellum during the lifespan, with changes in structural and functional connectivity with both the cerebral cortex and basal ganglia. With the aging of the population and the impact of aging on quality of life, the panel of experts considers that there is a huge need to clarify how the effects of aging on the cerebellar circuitry modify specific motor, cognitive, and affective operations both in normal subjects and in brain disorders such as AD or MDD, with the goal of preventing symptoms or improving the motor, cognitive, and affective symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Arleo
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 17 rue Moreau, F-75012, Paris, France
| | - Martin Bareš
- First Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University and St. Anne's Teaching Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
| | - Jessica A Bernard
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, 4235 TAMU, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
- Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Hannah R Bogoian
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Muriel M K Bruchhage
- Department of Psychology, Stavanger University, Institute of Social Sciences, Kjell Arholms Gate 41, 4021, Stavanger, Norway
- King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, Box 89, De Crespigny Park, London, PO, SE5 8AF, UK
- Rhode Island Hospital, Department for Diagnostic Imaging, 1 Hoppin St, Providence, RI, 02903, USA
- Department of Paediatrics, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 222 Richmond St, Providence, RI, 02903, USA
| | - Patrick Bryant
- Freie Universität Berlin, Fachbereich Mathematik und Informatik, Arnimallee 12, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Erik S Carlson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veteran's Affairs Medical Center, Puget Sound, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Chetwyn C H Chan
- Department of Psychology, The Education University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Tai Po, Hong Kong, China
| | - Liang-Kung Chen
- Center for Healthy Longevity and Aging Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
- Center for Geriatric and Gerontology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Taipei Municipal Gan-Dau Hospital (managed by Taipei Veterans General Hospital), Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Ping Chung
- Center for Healthy Longevity and Aging Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Vonetta M Dotson
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Gerontology Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Pavel Filip
- Department of Neurology, Charles University, First Faculty of Medicine and General University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Xavier Guell
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Laboratory for Neuroanatomy and Cerebellar Neurobiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christophe Habas
- CHNO Des Quinze-Vingts, INSERM-DGOS CIC 1423, 28 rue de Charenton, 75012, Paris, France
- Université Versailles St Quentin en Yvelines, Paris, France
| | - Heidi I L Jacobs
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Alzheimer Centre Limburg, Maastricht University, PO BOX 616, 6200, MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Maastricht University, PO BOX 616, 6200, MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Tatia M C Lee
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Laboratory of Neuropsychology and Human Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Maria Leggio
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Ataxia Laboratory, I.R.C.C.S. Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Misiura
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Hiroshi Mitoma
- Department of Medical Education, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Giusy Olivito
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Ataxia Laboratory, I.R.C.C.S. Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Stephen Ramanoël
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 17 rue Moreau, F-75012, Paris, France
- Université Côte d'Azur, LAMHESS, Nice, France
| | - Zeynab Rezaee
- Noninvasive Neuromodulation Unit, Experimental Therapeutics & Pathophysiology Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, NIH, Bethesda, USA
| | - Colby L Samstag
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veteran's Affairs Medical Center, Puget Sound, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jeremy D Schmahmann
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Laboratory for Neuroanatomy and Cerebellar Neurobiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Ataxia Center, Cognitive Behavioural neurology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kaoru Sekiyama
- Graduate School of Advanced Integrated Studies in Human Survivability, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Clive H Y Wong
- Department of Psychology, The Education University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Tai Po, Hong Kong, China
| | - Masatoshi Yamashita
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan
- United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University and University of Fukui, Osaka, Japan
| | - Mario Manto
- Service de Neurologie, Médiathèque Jean Jacquy, CHU-Charleroi, Charleroi, Belgium.
- Service des Neurosciences, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium.
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Bernard JA. Cerebello-Hippocampal Interactions in the Human Brain: A New Pathway for Insights Into Aging. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2024:10.1007/s12311-024-01670-5. [PMID: 38438826 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-024-01670-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
The cerebellum is recognized as being important for optimal behavioral performance across task domains, including motor function, cognition, and affect. Decades of work have highlighted cerebello-thalamo-cortical circuits, from both structural and functional perspectives. However, these circuits of interest have been primarily (though not exclusively) focused on targets in the cerebral cortex. In addition to these cortical connections, the circuit linking the cerebellum and hippocampus is of particular interest. Recently, there has been an increased interest in this circuit, thanks in large part to novel findings in the animal literature demonstrating that neuronal firing in the cerebellum impacts that in the hippocampus. Work in the human brain has provided evidence for interactions between the cerebellum and hippocampus, though primarily this has been in the context of spatial navigation. Given the role of both regions in cognition and aging, and emerging evidence indicating that the cerebellum is impacted in age-related neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer's, I propose that further attention to this circuit is warranted. Here, I provide an overview of cerebello-hippocampal interactions in animal models and from human imaging and outline the possible utility of further investigations to improve our understanding of aging and age-related cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A Bernard
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843-4235, USA.
- Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843-4235, USA.
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Herrejon IA, Jackson TB, Hicks TH, Bernard JA. Functional Connectivity Differences in Distinct Dentato-Cortical Networks in Alzheimer's Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.02.578249. [PMID: 38352603 PMCID: PMC10862898 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.02.578249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Recent research has implicated the cerebellum in Alzheimer's disease (AD), and cerebrocerebellar network connectivity is emerging as a possible contributor to symptom severity. The cerebellar dentate nucleus (DN) has parallel motor and non-motor sub-regions that project to motor and frontal regions of the cerebral cortex, respectively. These distinct dentato-cortical networks have been delineated in the non-human primate and human brain. Importantly, cerebellar regions prone to atrophy in AD are functionally connected to atrophied regions of the cerebral cortex, suggesting that dysfunction perhaps occurs at a network level. Investigating functional connectivity (FC) alterations of the DN is a crucial step in understanding the cerebellum in AD and in mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Inclusion of this latter group stands to provide insights into cerebellar contributions prior to diagnosis of AD. The present study investigated FC differences in dorsal (dDN) and ventral (vDN) DN networks in MCI and AD relative to cognitively normal participants (CN) and relationships between FC and behavior. Our results showed patterns indicating both higher and lower functional connectivity in both dDN and vDN in AD compared to CN. However, connectivity in the AD group was lower when compared to MCI. We argue that these findings suggest that the patterns of higher FC in AD may act as a compensatory mechanism. Additionally, we found associations between the individual networks and behavior. There were significant interactions between dDN connectivity and motor symptoms. However, both DN seeds were associated with cognitive task performance. Together, these results indicate that cerebellar DN networks are impacted in AD, and this may impact behavior. In concert with the growing body of literature implicating the cerebellum in AD, our work further underscores the importance of investigations of this region. We speculate that much like in psychiatric diseases such as schizophrenia, cerebellar dysfunction results in negative impacts on thought and the organization therein. Further, this is consistent with recent arguments that the cerebellum provides crucial scaffolding for cognitive function in aging. Together, our findings stand to inform future clinical work in the diagnosis and understanding of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan A. Herrejon
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences Texas A&M University
| | - T. Bryan Jackson
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences Texas A&M University
- Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer’s Center Vanderbilt University Medical Center
| | - Tracey H. Hicks
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences Texas A&M University
| | - Jessica A. Bernard
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences Texas A&M University
- Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience Texas A&M University
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Ye ZX, Bi J, Qiu LL, Chen XY, Li MC, Chen XY, Qiu YS, Yuan RY, Yu XT, Huang CY, Cheng B, Lin W, Chen WJ, Hu JP, Fu Y, Wang N, Gan SR. Cognitive impairment associated with cerebellar volume loss in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3. J Neurol 2024; 271:918-928. [PMID: 37848650 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-023-12042-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many neuroscience and neurology studies have forced a reconsideration of the traditional motor-related scope of cerebellar function, which has now expanded to include various cognitive functions. Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3; the most common hereditary ataxia) is neuropathologically characterized by cerebellar atrophy and frequently presents with cognitive impairment. OBJECTIVE To characterize cognitive impairment in SCA3 and investigate the cerebellum-cognition associations. METHODS This prospective, cross-sectional cohort study recruited 126 SCA3 patients and 41 healthy control individuals (HCs). Participants underwent a brain 3D T1-weighted images as well as neuropsychological tests. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and region of interest (ROI) approaches were performed on the 3D T1-weighted images. CERES was used to automatically segment cerebellums. Patients were grouped into cognitively impaired (CI) and cognitively preserved (CP), and clinical and MRI parameters were compared. Multivariable regression models were fitted to examine associations between cerebellar microstructural alterations and cognitive domain impairments. RESULTS Compared to HCs, SCA3 patients showed cognitive domain impairments in information processing speed, verbal memory, executive function, and visuospatial perception. Between CI and CP subgroups, the CI subgroup was older and had lower education, as well as higher severity scores. VBM and ROI analyses revealed volume loss in cerebellar bilateral lobule VI, right lobule Crus I, and right lobule IV of the CI subgroup, and all these cerebellar lobules were associated with the above cognitive domain impairments. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrate the multiple cognitive domain impairments in SCA3 patients and indicate the responsible cerebellar lobules for the impaired cognitive domain(s).
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Xian Ye
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience and Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China
| | - Jin Bi
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience and Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China
| | - Liang-Liang Qiu
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience and Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China
- Department of Neurology, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350212, China
| | - Xuan-Yu Chen
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China
| | - Meng-Cheng Li
- Department of Radiology of First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China
| | - Xin-Yuan Chen
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China
| | - Yu-Sen Qiu
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience and Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China
| | - Ru-Ying Yuan
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience and Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China
| | - Xin-Tong Yu
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience and Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China
| | - Chun-Yu Huang
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience and Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China
- Department of Neurology, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350212, China
| | - Bi Cheng
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience and Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China
| | - Wei Lin
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience and Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China
| | - Wan-Jin Chen
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience and Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China
- Department of Neurology, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350212, China
| | - Jian-Ping Hu
- Department of Radiology of First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China
| | - Ying Fu
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience and Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China.
- Department of Neurology, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350212, China.
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China.
| | - Ning Wang
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience and Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China.
- Department of Neurology, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350212, China.
| | - Shi-Rui Gan
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience and Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China.
- Department of Neurology, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350212, China.
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Bernard JA, McOwen KM, Huynh AT. New Frontiers for the Understanding of Aging: The Power and Possibilities of Studying the Cerebellum. Curr Opin Behav Sci 2023; 54:101311. [PMID: 38496767 PMCID: PMC10939048 DOI: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2023.101311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Understanding behavior in aging has benefited greatly from cognitive neuroscience. Our foundational understanding of the brain in advanced age is based on what now amounts to several decades of work demonstrating differences in brain structure, network organization, and function. Earlier work in this field was focused primarily on the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. More recent evidence has expanded our understanding of the aging brain to also implicate the cerebellum. Recent frameworks have suggested that the cerebellum may act as scaffolding for cortical function, and there is an emerging literature implicating the structure in Alzheimer's disease. At this juncture, there is evidence highlighting the potential importance of the cerebellum in advanced age, though the field of study is relatively nascent. Here, we provide an overview of key findings in the literature as it stands now and highlight several key future directions for study with respect to the cerebellum in aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A. Bernard
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences
- Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience
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9
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Ambeskovic M, Hopkins G, Hoover T, Joseph JT, Montina T, Metz GAS. Metabolomic Signatures of Alzheimer's Disease Indicate Brain Region-Specific Neurodegenerative Progression. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14769. [PMID: 37834217 PMCID: PMC10573054 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathological mechanisms contributing to Alzheimer's disease (AD) are still elusive. Here, we identified the metabolic signatures of AD in human post-mortem brains. Using 1H NMR spectroscopy and an untargeted metabolomics approach, we identified (1) metabolomic profiles of AD and age-matched healthy subjects in post-mortem brain tissue, and (2) region-common and region-unique metabolome alterations and biochemical pathways across eight brain regions revealed that BA9 was the most affected. Phenylalanine and phosphorylcholine were mainly downregulated, suggesting altered neurotransmitter synthesis. N-acetylaspartate and GABA were upregulated in most regions, suggesting higher inhibitory activity in neural circuits. Other region-common metabolic pathways indicated impaired mitochondrial function and energy metabolism, while region-unique pathways indicated oxidative stress and altered immune responses. Importantly, AD caused metabolic changes in brain regions with less well-documented pathological alterations that suggest degenerative progression. The findings provide a new understanding of the biochemical mechanisms of AD and guide biomarker discovery for personalized risk prediction and diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirela Ambeskovic
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada; (M.A.); (G.H.); (T.H.)
| | - Giselle Hopkins
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada; (M.A.); (G.H.); (T.H.)
| | - Tanzi Hoover
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada; (M.A.); (G.H.); (T.H.)
| | - Jeffrey T. Joseph
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada;
| | - Tony Montina
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
- Southern Alberta Genome Sciences Centre, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Gerlinde A. S. Metz
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada; (M.A.); (G.H.); (T.H.)
- Southern Alberta Genome Sciences Centre, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
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10
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Kulkarni M, Kent JS, Park K, Guell X, Anteraper S. Resting-state functional connectivity-based parcellation of the human dentate nucleus: new findings and clinical relevance. Brain Struct Funct 2023; 228:1799-1810. [PMID: 37439862 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-023-02665-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
For years, the cerebellum was left out of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies due to technological limitations. The advent of novel data acquisition and reconstruction strategies (e.g., whole-brain simultaneous multi-slice imaging) employing multi-channel array coils has overcome such limitations, ushering unprecedented improvements in temporal signal-to-noise ratio and spatiotemporal resolution. Here, we aim to provide a brief report on the deep cerebellar nuclei, specifically focusing on the dentate nuclei, the primary output nuclei, situated within both cognitive and motor cerebello-cerebral circuits. We highlight the importance of functional parcellation in refining our understanding of broad resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) in both health and disease. First, we review work relevant to the functional topography of the dentate nuclei, including recent advances in functional parcellation. Next, we review RSFC studies using the dentate nuclei as seed regions of interest in neurological and psychiatric populations and discuss the potential benefits of applying functionally defined subdivisions. Finally, we discuss recent technological advances and underscore ultrahigh-field neuroimaging as a tool to potentiate functionally parcellated RSFC analyses in clinical populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maitreyee Kulkarni
- Department of Psychology, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA
| | - Jerillyn S Kent
- Department of Psychology, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA
| | - Katie Park
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Xavier Guell
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sheeba Anteraper
- Advanced Imaging Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 2201 Inwood Road, Dallas, TX, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, United States.
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11
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Toniolo S, Pisotta I, Manto M. Editorial: The role of the cerebellum in dementia and neurodegenerative diseases. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1229624. [PMID: 37397444 PMCID: PMC10313379 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1229624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Toniolo
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, John Radcliffe Hospital, University Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Iolanda Pisotta
- NeuroRobot Lab, Laboratorio di Neuroriabilitazione Robotica, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Mario Manto
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium
- Service de Neurologie, CHU-Charleroi, Charleroi, Belgium
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12
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Zhang X, Li Y, Guan Q, Dong D, Zhang J, Meng X, Chen F, Luo Y, Zhang H. Distance-dependent reconfiguration of hubs in Alzheimer's disease: a cross-tissue functional network study. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.24.532772. [PMID: 36993290 PMCID: PMC10055319 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.24.532772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
The hubs of the intra-grey matter (GM) network were sensitive to anatomical distance and susceptible to neuropathological damage. However, few studies examined the hubs of cross-tissue distance-dependent networks and their changes in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Using resting-state fMRI data of 30 AD patients and 37 normal older adults (NC), we constructed the cross-tissue networks based on functional connectivity (FC) between GM and white matter (WM) voxels. In the full-ranged and distance-dependent networks (characterized by gradually increased Euclidean distances between GM and WM voxels), their hubs were identified with weight degree metrics (frWD and ddWD). We compared these WD metrics between AD and NC; using the resultant abnormal WDs as the seeds, we performed seed-based FC analysis. With increasing distance, the GM hubs of distance-dependent networks moved from the medial to lateral cortices, and the WM hubs spread from the projection fibers to longitudinal fascicles. Abnormal ddWD metrics in AD were primarily located in the hubs of distance-dependent networks around 20-100mm. Decreased ddWDs were located in the left corona radiation (CR), which had decreased FCs with the executive network's GM regions in AD. Increased ddWDs were located in the posterior thalamic radiation (PTR) and the temporal-parietal-occipital junction (TPO), and their FCs were larger in AD. Increased ddWDs were shown in the sagittal striatum, which had larger FCs with the salience network's GM regions in AD. The reconfiguration of cross-tissue distance-dependent networks possibly reflected the disruption in the neural circuit of executive function and the compensatory changes in the neural circuits of visuospatial and social-emotional functions in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingxing Zhang
- Center for Brain Disorders and Cognitive Sciences, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yingjia Li
- Center for Brain Disorders and Cognitive Sciences, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qing Guan
- Center for Brain Disorders and Cognitive Sciences, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- Center for Neuroimaging, Shenzhen Institute of Neuroscience, Shenzhen, China
| | - Debo Dong
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Brain & Behaviour (INM-7), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Jianfeng Zhang
- Center for Brain Disorders and Cognitive Sciences, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xianghong Meng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Fuyong Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shenzhen Hospital of University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yuejia Luo
- Center for Brain Disorders and Cognitive Sciences, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Haobo Zhang
- Center for Brain Disorders and Cognitive Sciences, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
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13
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Gelfo F, Serra L, Petrosini L. New prospects on cerebellar reserve: Remarks on neuroprotective effects of experience in animals and humans. Front Syst Neurosci 2023; 16:1088587. [PMID: 36685287 PMCID: PMC9854258 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2022.1088587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability of the brain to change structure and function in response to experience accounts for its ability to successfully adapt to the environment in both learning processes and unique phases, such as during development and repair. On this basis, the occurrence of the brain, cognitive, and neural reserves has been advanced to explain the discrepancies between the extent of neurological damage and the severity of clinical manifestations described in patients with different life span experiences. Research on this topic highlighted the neuroprotective role of complex stimulations, allowing the brain to better cope with the damage. This framework was initially developed by observing patients with Alzheimer's disease, and it has since been progressively expanded to multifarious pathological states. The cerebellum is known to be particularly responsive to experience through extensive plastic rearrangements. The neuroprotective value exerted by reserve mechanisms appears to be suitable for basic neuronal plasticity in the cerebellum. Thus, it is of primary interest to deepen our understanding of how life experiences modify individuals' cerebellar morphology and functionality. The present study is aimed at analyzing the evidence provided on this topic by animal and human studies. For animals, we considered the studies in which subjects were submitted to enhanced stimulations before the damage occurred. For humans, we considered studies in which previous lifelong high-level experiences were associated with superior cerebellar abilities to cope with injury. Detailed indications of the processes underlying cerebellar reserves may be important in proposing effective interventions for patients suffering from pathologies that directly or indirectly damage cerebellar functionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Gelfo
- Department of Human Sciences, Guglielmo Marconi University, Rome, Italy,IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy,*Correspondence: Francesca Gelfo ✉
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14
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Cheng C, Yang C, Jia C, Wang Q. The Role of Cerebellum in Alzheimer's Disease: A Forgotten Research Corner. J Alzheimers Dis 2023; 95:75-78. [PMID: 37458038 DOI: 10.3233/jad-230381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex, heterogeneous, and progressive neurodegenerative dementia. Although the majority of AD research has primarily focused on disease-associated alterations of the cortex and hippocampus in the cerebrum, emerging evidence has highlighted the cerebellum's involvement in sleep, cognition, and AD. In this commentary, we discuss a recently published article in Alzheimer's and Dementia, which examines changes in cerebellar electrophysiology, sleep-wake cycles, and neuropathology in APPswe/PS1ΔE9 mice. We also explore the potential role of the cerebellum in AD, offering a fresh perspective on the study of cerebellar involvement in the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Cheng
- School of Public Health, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
- National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Drug-Research and Development (R&D) of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
- Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratories for Research on the Pathogenic Mechanisms of Neurological Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Cui Yang
- Institute of Neurology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences-Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Congcong Jia
- Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratories for Research on the Pathogenic Mechanisms of Neurological Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Qingshan Wang
- School of Public Health, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
- National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Drug-Research and Development (R&D) of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
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15
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Olivito G, Quaranta D, Siciliano L, Caraglia N, Caprara A, Marra C, Leggio M, Silveri MC. The Cerebellum Is a Key Structure in the Neural Network for Mentalizing: An MRI Study in the Behavioral Variant of Frontotemporal Dementia. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10112901. [PMID: 36428469 PMCID: PMC9687564 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10112901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The behavioural variant of frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) is primarily characterized by deficits in social behaviour and theory of mind (ToM). Although a consensus has been reached on the roles of the cerebellum in social cognition and ToM, its specific contribution to social impairments of bvFTD has never been specifically investigated. The aim of this study was to assess cerebellar structural and functional changes in patients with bvFTD and their potential association with ToM deficits of patients. Therefore, 15 patients with bvFTD and 34 healthy subjects underwent an MRI examination. Voxel-based morphometry was used to assess cerebellar (GM) changes, and a seed-based analysis was performed to test cerebello-cerebral functional connectivity (FC). The performance of bvFTD patients in a ToM task was then correlated with FC patterns. Compared to healthy subjects, patients with bvFTD showed significant cerebellar GM loss specifically involving cerebellar Crus I-II. Additionally, FC changes FC were observed between the cerebellum and cerebral regions related to ToM. Interestingly, patterns of changes in cerebello-cerebral FC correlated with altered ToM performances explored using the "Reading the Mind with the Eyes" test (RMET) of patients. The present findings suggest that specific changes in cerebello-cerebral FC may underlie ToM alterations in patients with bvFTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giusy Olivito
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Roma, Italy
- Ataxia Research Laboratory, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, 00179 Rome, Italy
| | - Davide Quaranta
- Neurology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Milan, Italy
| | - Libera Siciliano
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Roma, Italy
- Ataxia Research Laboratory, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, 00179 Rome, Italy
| | - Naike Caraglia
- Neurology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessia Caprara
- Neurology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Camillo Marra
- Neurology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Leggio
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Roma, Italy
- Ataxia Research Laboratory, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, 00179 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Maria Caterina Silveri
- Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Milan, Italy
- Centre for the Medicine of Aging, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
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16
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Cheron G, Ristori D, Marquez-Ruiz J, Cebolla AM, Ris L. Electrophysiological alterations of the Purkinje cells and deep cerebellar neurons in a mouse model of Alzheimer disease (electrophysiology on cerebellum of AD mice). Eur J Neurosci 2022; 56:5547-5563. [PMID: 35141975 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is histopathologically well defined by the presence of amyloid deposits and tau-related neurofibrillary tangles in crucial regions of the brain. Interest is growing in revealing and determining possible pathological markers also in the cerebellum as its involvement in cognitive functions is now well supported. Despite the central position of the Purkinje cell in the cerebellum, its electrophysiological behaviour in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease is scarce in the literature. Our first aim was here to focus on the electrophysiological behaviour of the cerebellum in awake mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (APPswe/PSEN1dE9) and the related performance on the water-maze test classically used in behavioural studies. We found prevalent signs of electrophysiological alterations in both Purkinje cells and deep cerebellar nuclei neurons which might explain the behavioural deficits reported during the water-maze test. The alterations of neurons firing were accompanied by a dual (~16 and ~228 Hz) local field potential's oscillation in the Purkinje cell layer of Alzheimer's disease mice which was concomitant to an important increase of both the simple and the complex spikes. In addition, β-amyloid deposits were present in the molecular layer of the cerebellum. These results highlight the importance of the output firing modification of the AD cerebellum that may indirectly impact the activity of its subcortical and cortical targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guy Cheron
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Movement Biomechanics, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.,ULB Neuroscience Institut, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.,Laboratory of Neuroscience, Université de Mons, Mons, Belgium
| | - Dominique Ristori
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Movement Biomechanics, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Javier Marquez-Ruiz
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Pablo de Olavide University, Seville, Spain
| | - Anna-Maria Cebolla
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Movement Biomechanics, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Laurence Ris
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Université de Mons, Mons, Belgium.,UMONS Research Institut for health and technology, Université de Mons, Mons, Belgium
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17
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Mohammadian F, Zare Sadeghi A, Noroozian M, Malekian V, Abbasi Sisara M, Hashemi H, Mobarak Salari H, Valizadeh G, Samadi F, Sodaei F, Saligheh Rad H. Quantitative Assessment of Resting-State Functional Connectivity MRI to Differentiate Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment, Late-Onset Alzheimer's Disease From Normal Subjects. J Magn Reson Imaging 2022; 57:1702-1712. [PMID: 36226735 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.28469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer disease (AD) is a neurological disorder with brain network dysfunction. Investigation of the brain network functional connectivity (FC) alterations using resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) can provide valuable information about the brain network pattern in early AD diagnosis. PURPOSE To quantitatively assess FC patterns of resting-state brain networks and graph theory metrics (GTMs) to identify potential features for differentiation of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and late-onset AD from normal. STUDY TYPE Prospective. SUBJECTS A total of 14 normal, 16 aMCI, and 13 late-onset AD. FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE A 3.0 T; rs-fMRI: single-shot 2D-EPI and T1-weighted structure: MPRAGE. ASSESSMENT By applying bivariate correlation coefficient and Fisher transformation on the time series of predefined ROIs' pairs, correlation coefficient matrixes and ROI-to-ROI connectivity (RRC) were extracted. By thresholding the RRC matrix (with a threshold of 0.15), a graph adjacency matrix was created to compute GTMs. STATISTICAL TESTS Region of interest (ROI)-based analysis: parametric multivariable statistical analysis (PMSA) with a false discovery rate using (FDR)-corrected P < 0.05 cluster-level threshold together with posthoc uncorrected P < 0.05 connection-level threshold. Graph-theory analysis (GTA): P-FDR-corrected < 0.05. One-way ANOVA and Chi-square tests were used to compare clinical characteristics. RESULTS PMSA differentiated AD from normal, with a significant decrease in FC of default mode, salience, dorsal attention, frontoparietal, language, visual, and cerebellar networks. Furthermore, significant increase in overall FC of visual and language networks was observed in aMCI compared to normal. GTA revealed a significant decrease in global-efficiency (28.05 < 45), local-efficiency (22.98 < 24.05), and betweenness-centrality (14.60 < 17.39) for AD against normal. Moreover, a significant increase in local-efficiency (33.46 > 24.05) and clustering-coefficient (25 > 20.18) were found in aMCI compared to normal. DATA CONCLUSION This study demonstrated resting-state FC potential as an indicator to differentiate AD, aMCI, and normal. GTA revealed brain integration and breakdown by providing concise and comprehensible statistics. EVIDENCE LEVEL 1 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Mohammadian
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Quantitative Medical Imaging/Spectroscopy Group, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Arash Zare Sadeghi
- Medical Physics Department, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Noroozian
- Department of Psychiatry, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Vahid Malekian
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Majid Abbasi Sisara
- Electrical Engineering Department, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hasan Hashemi
- Department of Radiology, Advanced Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Research Center, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hanieh Mobarak Salari
- Quantitative Medical Imaging/Spectroscopy Group, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Gelareh Valizadeh
- Quantitative Medical Imaging/Spectroscopy Group, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fardin Samadi
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Forough Sodaei
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Quantitative Medical Imaging/Spectroscopy Group, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamidreza Saligheh Rad
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Quantitative Medical Imaging/Spectroscopy Group, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
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18
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Olivito G, Lupo M, Siciliano L, Gragnani A, Saettoni M, Pancheri C, Panfili M, Pignatelli F, Delle Chiaie R, Leggio M. Theory of mind profile and cerebellar alterations in remitted bipolar disorder 1 and 2: a comparison study. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:971244. [PMID: 36160679 PMCID: PMC9492864 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.971244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The literature on social cognition abilities in bipolar disorder (BD) is controversial about the occurrence of theory of mind (ToM) alterations. In addition to other cerebral structures, such as the frontal and limbic areas, the processing of socially relevant stimuli has also been attributed to the cerebellum, which has been demonstrated to be involved in the above-mentioned disorder. Nevertheless, the cerebellar contribution to ToM deficits in bipolar patients needs to be elucidated further. To this aim, two tests assessing different components of ToM were used to evaluate the ability to appreciate affective and mental states of others in 17 individuals with a diagnosis of BD type 1 (BD1) and 13 with BD type 2 (BD2), both in the euthymic phase, compared to healthy matched controls. Cerebellar gray matter (GM) volumes were extracted and compared between BD1 and controls and BD2 and controls by using voxel-based morphometry. The results showed that BD1 patients were compromised in the cognitive and advanced components of ToM, while the BD2 ToM profile resulted in a more widespread compromise, also involving affective and automatic components. Both overlapping and differing areas of cerebellar GM reduction were found. The two groups of patients presented a pattern of GM reduction in cerebellar portions that are known to be involved in the affective and social domains, such as the vermis and Crus I and Crus II. Interestingly, in both BD1 and BD2, positive correlations were detected between lower ToM scores and decreased volumes in the cerebellum. Overall, BD2 patients showed a more compromised ToM profile and greater cerebellar impairment than BD1 patients. The different patterns of structural abnormalities may account for the different ToM performances evidenced, thus leading to divergent profiles between BD1 and BD2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giusy Olivito
- Ataxia Laboratory, Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Giusy Olivito
| | - Michela Lupo
- Servizio di Tutela della Salute Mentale e Riabilitazione dell’Età Evolutiva ASL, Rome, Italy
| | - Libera Siciliano
- Ataxia Laboratory, Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Gragnani
- Scuola di Psicoterapia Cognitiva (SPC), Grosseto, Italy
- Associazione Psicologia Cognitiva (APC)/Scuola di Psicoterapia Cognitiva (SPC), Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Saettoni
- Scuola di Psicoterapia Cognitiva (SPC), Grosseto, Italy
- Unità Funzionale Salute Mentale Adulti ASL Toscana Nord-Ovest Valle del Serchio, Pisa, Italy
| | - Corinna Pancheri
- Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health–Policlinico Umberto I Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Matteo Panfili
- Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health–Policlinico Umberto I Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Roberto Delle Chiaie
- Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health–Policlinico Umberto I Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Leggio
- Ataxia Laboratory, Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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19
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Gray and white matter abnormality in patients with T2DM-related cognitive dysfunction: a systemic review and meta-analysis. Nutr Diabetes 2022; 12:39. [PMID: 35970833 PMCID: PMC9378704 DOI: 10.1038/s41387-022-00214-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims/hypothesis Brain structure abnormality in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)-related cognitive dysfunction (T2DM-CD) has been reported for decades in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies. However, the reliable results were still unclear. This study aimed to make a systemic review and meta-analysis to find the significant and consistent gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) alterations in patients with T2DM-CD by comparing with the healthy controls (HCs). Methods Published studies were systemically searched from PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library and Web of Science databases updated to November 14, 2021. Studies reporting abnormal GM or WM between patients with T2DM-CD and HCs were selected, and their significant peak coordinates (x, y, z) and effect sizes (z-score or t-value) were extracted to perform a voxel-based meta-analysis by anisotropic effect size-signed differential mapping (AES-SDM) 5.15 software. Results Total 15 studies and 16 datasets (1550 participants) from 7531 results were involved in this study. Compared to HCs, patients with T2DM-CD showed significant and consistent decreased GM in right superior frontal gyrus, medial orbital (PFCventmed. R, BA 11), left superior temporal gyrus (STG. L, BA 48), and right calcarine fissure / surrounding cortex (CAL. R, BA 17), as well as decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) in right inferior network, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFOF. R), right inferior network, longitudinal fasciculus (ILF. R), and undefined area (32, −60, −42) of cerebellum. Meta-regression showed the positive relationship between decreased GM in PFCventmed.R and MoCA score, the positive relationship between decreased GM in STG.L and BMI, as well as the positive relationship between the decreased FA in IFOF.R and age or BMI. Conclusions/interpretation T2DM impairs the cognitive function by affecting the specific brain structures. GM atrophy in PFCventmed. R (BA 11), STG. L (BA 48), and CAL. R (BA 17), as well as WM injury in IFOF. R, ILF. R, and undefined area (32, −60, −42) of cerebellum. And those brain regions may be valuable targets for future researches. Age, BMI, and MoCA score have a potential influence on the altered GM or WM in T2DM-CD.
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Zhang C, Cui X, Lian S, Xiao R, Qiao H, Li S, Lou Y, Feng Y, Zhuang L, Du J, Liu X. Intelligent algorithm for dynamic functional brain network complexity from CN to AD. INT J INTELL SYST 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/int.22737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chenghui Zhang
- School of Computer Science Qufu Normal University Rizhao China
- Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Zhejiang University Hangzhou China
| | - Xinchun Cui
- School of Computer Science Qufu Normal University Rizhao China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Cryptography and Information Security Guilin China
| | - Shujun Lian
- School of Management Qufu Normal University Rizhao China
| | - Ruyi Xiao
- School of Computer Science Qufu Normal University Rizhao China
| | - Hong Qiao
- School of Business Shandong Normal University Jinan China
| | - Shancang Li
- Department of Computer Science University of the West of England Bristol UK
| | - Yue Lou
- Department of Neurology Zhejiang Hospital Hangzhou China
| | - Yue Feng
- Department of Radiology Zhejiang Hospital Hangzhou China
| | - Liying Zhuang
- Department of Neurology Zhejiang Hospital Hangzhou China
| | - Jianzong Du
- Respiratory Medicine Zhejiang Hospital Hangzhou China
| | - Xiaoli Liu
- Department of Neurology Zhejiang Hospital Hangzhou China
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21
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Sasaki R, Hand BJ, Liao WY, Rogasch NC, Fernandez L, Semmler JG, Opie GM. Utilising TMS-EEG to Assess the Response to Cerebellar-Brain Inhibition. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2022:10.1007/s12311-022-01419-y. [PMID: 35661100 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-022-01419-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Cerebellar-brain inhibition (CBI) is a transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) paradigm indexing excitability of cerebellar projections to motor cortex (M1). Stimulation involved with CBI is often considered to be uncomfortable, and alternative ways to index connectivity between cerebellum and the cortex would be valuable. We therefore sought to assess the utility of electroencephalography in conjunction with TMS (combined TMS-EEG) to record the response to CBI. A total of 33 volunteers (25.7 ± 4.9 years, 20 females) participated across three experiments. These investigated EEG responses to CBI induced with a figure-of-eight (F8; experiment 1) or double cone (DC; experiment 2) conditioning coil over cerebellum, in addition to multisensory sham stimulation (experiment 3). Both F8 and DC coils suppressed early TMS-evoked EEG potentials (TEPs) produced by TMS to M1 (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the TEP produced by CBI stimulation was related to the motor inhibitory response to CBI recorded in a hand muscle (P < 0.05), but only when using the DC coil. Multisensory sham stimulation failed to modify the M1 TEP. Cerebellar conditioning produced changes in the M1 TEP that were not apparent following sham stimulation, and that were related to the motor inhibitory effects of CBI. Our findings therefore suggest that it is possible to index the response to CBI using TMS-EEG. In addition, while both F8 and DC coils appear to recruit cerebellar projections, the nature of these may be different.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Sasaki
- Discipline of Physiology, School of Biomedicine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia
| | - B J Hand
- Discipline of Physiology, School of Biomedicine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia
| | - W Y Liao
- Discipline of Physiology, School of Biomedicine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia
| | - N C Rogasch
- Discipline of Psychiatry, Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
- Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, Australia
- School of Psychological Sciences, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - L Fernandez
- Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - J G Semmler
- Discipline of Physiology, School of Biomedicine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia
| | - G M Opie
- Discipline of Physiology, School of Biomedicine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia.
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22
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Bernard JA. Don't forget the little brain: A framework for incorporating the cerebellum into the understanding of cognitive aging. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 137:104639. [PMID: 35346747 PMCID: PMC9119942 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
With the rapidly growing population of older adults, an improved understanding of brain and cognitive aging is critical, given the impacts on health, independence, and quality of life. To this point, we have a well-developed literature on the cortical contributions to cognition in advanced age. However, while this work has been foundational for our understanding of brain and behavior in older adults, subcortical contributions, particularly those from the cerebellum, have not been integrated into these models and frameworks. Incorporating the cerebellum into models of cognitive aging is an important step for moving the field forward. There has also been recent interest in this structure in Alzheimer's dementia, indicating that such work may be beneficial to our understanding of neurodegenerative disease. Here, I provide an updated overview of the cerebellum in advanced age and propose that it serves as a critical source of scaffolding or reserve for cortical function. Age-related impacts on cerebellar function further impact cortical processing, perhaps resulting in many of the activation patterns commonly seen in aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A Bernard
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, USA; Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, USA.
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Zhang X, Guan Q, Li Y, Zhang J, Zhu W, Luo Y, Zhang H. Aberrant Cross-Tissue Functional Connectivity in Alzheimer’s Disease: Static, Dynamic, and Directional Properties. J Alzheimers Dis 2022; 88:273-290. [DOI: 10.3233/jad-215649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Background: BOLD signals in the gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) are tightly coupled. However, our understanding of the cross-tissue functional network in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is limited. Objective: We investigated the changes of cross-tissue functional connectivity (FC) metrics for the GM regions susceptible to AD damage. Methods: For each GM region in the default mode (DMN) and limbic networks, we obtained its low-order static FC with any WM region, and the high-order static FC between any two WM regions based on their FC pattern similarity with multiple GM regions. The dynamic and directional properties of cross-tissue FC were then acquired, specifically for the regional pairs whose low- or high-order static FCs showed significant differences between AD and normal control (NC). Moreover, these cross-tissue FC metrics were correlated with voxel-based GM volumes and MMSE in all participants. Results: Compared to NC, AD patients showed decreased low-order static FCs between the intra-hemispheric GM-WM pairs (right ITG-right fornix; left MoFG-left posterior corona radiata), and increased low-order static, dynamic, and directional FCs between the inter-hemispheric GM-WM pairs (right MTG-left superior/posterior corona radiata). The high-order static and directional FCs between the left cingulate bundle-left tapetum were increased in AD, based on their FCs with the GMs of DMN. Those decreased and increased cross-tissue FC metrics in AD had opposite correlations with memory-related GM volumes and MMSE (positive for the decreased and negative for the increased). Conclusion: Cross-tissue FC metrics showed opposite changes in AD, possibly as useful neuroimaging biomarkers to reflect neurodegenerative and compensatory mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingxing Zhang
- Center for Brain Disorders and Cognitive Sciences, School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qing Guan
- Center for Brain Disorders and Cognitive Sciences, School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen, China
- Center for Neuroimaging, Shenzhen Institute of Neuroscience, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yingjia Li
- Center for Brain Disorders and Cognitive Sciences, School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jianfeng Zhang
- Center for Brain Disorders and Cognitive Sciences, School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wanlin Zhu
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuejia Luo
- Center for Brain Disorders and Cognitive Sciences, School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Haobo Zhang
- Center for Brain Disorders and Cognitive Sciences, School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen, China
- Center for Neuroimaging, Shenzhen Institute of Neuroscience, Shenzhen, China
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Xie Y, He Y, Guan M, Zhou G, Wang Z, Ma Z, Wang H, Yin H. Impact of low-frequency rTMS on functional connectivity of the dentate nucleus subdomains in schizophrenia patients with auditory verbal hallucination. J Psychiatr Res 2022; 149:87-96. [PMID: 35259665 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.02.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Despite low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is effective in treating schizophrenia patients with auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH), the underlying neural mechanisms of the effect still need to be clarified. Using the cerebellar dentate nucleus (DN) subdomain (dorsal and versal DN) as seeds, the present study investigated resting state functional connectivity (FC) alternations of the seeds with the whole brain and their associations with clinical responses in schizophrenia patients with AVH receiving 1 Hz rTMS treatment. The results showed that the rTMS treatment improved the psychiatric symptoms (e.g., AVH and positive symptoms) and certain neurocognitive functions (e.g., visual learning and verbal learning) in the patients. In addition, the patients at baseline showed increased FC between the DN subdomains and temporal lobes (e.g., right superior temporal gyrus and right middle temporal gyrus) and decreased FC between the DN subdomains and the left superior frontal gyrus, right postcentral gyrus, left supramarginal gyrus and regional cerebellum (e.g., lobule 4-5) compared to controls. Furthermore, these abnormal DN subdomain connectivity patterns did not persist and decreased FC of DN subdomains with cerebellum lobule 4-5 were reversed in patients after rTMS treatment. Linear regression analysis showed that the FC difference values of DN subdomains with the temporal lobes, supramarginal gyrus and cerebellum 4-5 between the patients at baseline and posttreatment were associated with clinical improvements (e.g., AVH and verbal learning) after rTMS treatment. The results suggested that rTMS treatment may modulate the neural circuits of the DN subdomains and hint to underlying neural mechanisms for low-frequency rTMS treating schizophrenia with AVH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanjun Xie
- School of Education, Xinyang College, Xinyang, China; Department of Radiology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
| | - Ying He
- Department of Psychiatry, Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Muzhen Guan
- Department of Mental Health, Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | | | - Zhongheng Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Zhujing Ma
- Department of Military Psychology, School of Psychology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Huaning Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
| | - Hong Yin
- Department of Radiology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
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Mirino P, Pecchinenda A, Boccia M, Capirchio A, D’Antonio F, Guariglia C. Cerebellum-Cortical Interaction in Spatial Navigation and Its Alteration in Dementias. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12050523. [PMID: 35624910 PMCID: PMC9138670 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12050523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The cerebellum has a homogeneous structure and performs different computational functions such as modulation/coordination of the communication between cerebral regions, and regulation/integration of sensory information. Albeit cerebellar activity is generally associated with motor functions, several recent studies link it to various cognitive functions, including spatial navigation. In addition, cerebellar activity plays a modulatory role in different cognitive domains and brain processes. Depending on the network involved, cerebellar damage results in specific functional alterations, even when no function loss might be detected. In the present review, we discuss evidence of brainstem degeneration and of a substantial reduction of neurons in nuclei connected to the inferior olivary nucleus in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Based on the rich patterns of afferences from the inferior olive nucleus to the cerebellum, we argue that the subtle alterations in spatial navigation described in the early stages of dementia stem from alterations of the neuromodulatory functions of the cerebellum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierandrea Mirino
- Department of Psychology, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (P.M.); (A.P.); (M.B.)
- Ph.D. Program in Behavioral Neuroscience, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
- Computational and Translational Neuroscience Laboratory, Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, National Research Council, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Anna Pecchinenda
- Department of Psychology, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (P.M.); (A.P.); (M.B.)
- Cognitive and Motor Rehabilitation and Neuroimaging Unit, IRCCS Santa Lucia, 00179 Rome, Italy
| | - Maddalena Boccia
- Department of Psychology, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (P.M.); (A.P.); (M.B.)
- Cognitive and Motor Rehabilitation and Neuroimaging Unit, IRCCS Santa Lucia, 00179 Rome, Italy
| | - Adriano Capirchio
- Computational and Translational Neuroscience Laboratory, Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, National Research Council, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Fabrizia D’Antonio
- Department of Human Neurosciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Cecilia Guariglia
- Department of Psychology, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (P.M.); (A.P.); (M.B.)
- Cognitive and Motor Rehabilitation and Neuroimaging Unit, IRCCS Santa Lucia, 00179 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence:
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Alzheimer disease stages identification based on correlation transfer function system using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0264710. [PMID: 35413053 PMCID: PMC9004771 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0264710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) affects the quality of life as it causes; memory loss, difficulty in thinking, learning, and performing familiar tasks. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) has been widely used to investigate and analyze different brain regions for AD identification. This study investigates the effectiveness of using correlated transfer function (CorrTF) as a new biomarker to extract the essential features from rs-fMRI, along with support vector machine (SVM) ordered hierarchically, in order to distinguish between the different AD stages. Additionally, we explored the regions, showing significant changes based on the CorrTF extracted features’ strength among different AD stages. First, the process was initialized by applying the preprocessing on rs-fMRI data samples to reduce noise and retain the essential information. Then, the automated anatomical labeling (AAL) atlas was employed to divide the brain into 116 regions, where the intensity time series was calculated, and the CorrTF features were extracted for each region. The proposed framework employed the SVM classifier in two different methodologies, hierarchical and flat multi-classification schemes, to differentiate between the different AD stages for early detection purposes. The ADNI rs-fMRI dataset, employed in this study, consists of 167, 102, 129, and 114 normal, early, late mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and AD subjects, respectively. The proposed schemes achieved an average accuracy of 98.2% and 95.5% for hierarchical and flat multi-classification tasks, respectively, calculated using ten folds cross-validation. Therefore, CorrTF is considered a promising biomarker for AD early-stage identification. Moreover, the significant changes in the strengths of CorrTF connections among the different AD stages can help us identify and explore the affected brain regions and their latent associations during the progression of AD.
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Xing C, Chen YC, Shang S, Xu JJ, Chen H, Yin X, Wu Y, Zheng JX. Abnormal Static and Dynamic Functional Network Connectivity in Patients With Presbycusis. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 13:774901. [PMID: 35069176 PMCID: PMC8766420 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.774901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: This study aimed to investigate abnormal static and dynamic functional network connectivity (FNC) and its association with cognitive function in patients with presbycusis. Methods: In total, 60 patients with presbycusis and 60 age-, sex-, and education-matched healthy controls (HCs) underwent resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) and cognitive assessments. Group independent component analysis (ICA) was carried out on the rs-fMRI data, and eight resting-state networks (RSNs) were identified. Static and dynamic FNCs (sFNC and dFNC) were then constructed to evaluate differences in RSN connectivity between the patients with presbycusis and the HCs. Furthermore, the correlations between these differences and cognitive scores were analyzed. Results: Patients with presbycusis had differences in sFNC compared with HCs, mainly reflected in decreased sFNC in the default mode network (DMN)-left frontoparietal network (LFPN) and attention network (AN)-cerebellum network (CN) pairs, but they had increased sFNC in the auditory network (AUN) between DMN domains. The decreased sFNC in the DMN-LFPN pair was negatively correlated with their TMT-B score (r = –0.441, p = 0.002). Patients with presbycusis exhibited aberrant dFNCs in State 2 and decreased dFNCs between the CN and AN and the visual network (VN). Moreover, the presbycusis group had a shorter mean dwell time (MDT) and fraction time (FT) in State 3 (p = 0.0027; p = 0.0031, respectively). Conclusion: This study highlighted differences in static and dynamic functional connectivity in patients with presbycusis and suggested that FNC may serve as an important biomarker of cognitive performance since abnormal alterations can better track cognitive impairment in presbycusis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunhua Xing
- Department of Radiology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yu-Chen Chen
- Department of Radiology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Song’an Shang
- Department of Radiology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jin-Jing Xu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Huiyou Chen
- Department of Radiology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xindao Yin
- Department of Radiology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuanqing Wu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Yuanqing Wu,
| | - Jin-Xia Zheng
- Department of Radiology, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Women’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- *Correspondence: Jin-Xia Zheng,
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RALBP1 in Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Alzheimer's Disease. Cells 2021; 10:cells10113113. [PMID: 34831336 PMCID: PMC8620796 DOI: 10.3390/cells10113113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of our study is to understand the role of the RALBP1 gene in oxidative stress (OS), mitochondrial dysfunction and cognition in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. The RALPB1 gene encodes the 76 kDa protein RLIP76 (Rlip). Rlip functions as a stress-responsive/protective transporter of glutathione conjugates (GS-E) and xenobiotic toxins. We hypothesized that Rlip may play an important role in maintaining cognitive function. The aim of this study is to determine whether Rlip deficiency in mice is associated with AD-like cognitive and mitochondrial dysfunction. Brain tissue obtained from cohorts of wildtype (WT) and Rlip+/- mice were analyzed for OS markers, expression of genes that regulate mitochondrial fission/fusion, and synaptic integrity. We also examined mitochondrial ultrastructure in brains obtained from these mice and further analyzed the impact of Rlip deficiency on gene networks of AD, aging, stress response, mitochondrial function, and CREB signaling. Our studies revealed a significant increase in the levels of OS markers and alterations in the expression of genes and proteins involved in mitochondrial biogenesis, dynamics and synapses in brain tissues from these mice. Furthermore, we compared the cognitive function of WT and Rlip+/- mice. Behavioral, basic motor and sensory function tests in Rlip+/- mice revealed cognitive decline, similar to AD. Gene network analysis indicated dysregulation of stress-activated gene expression, mitochondrial function and CREB signaling genes in the Rlip+/- mouse brain. Our results suggest that Rlip deficiency-associated increases in OS and mitochondrial dysfunction could contribute to the development or progression of OS-related AD processes.
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Combination of structural MRI, functional MRI and brain PET-CT provide more diagnostic and prognostic value in patients of cerebellar ataxia associated with anti-Tr/DNER: a case report. BMC Neurol 2021; 21:368. [PMID: 34560837 PMCID: PMC8461997 DOI: 10.1186/s12883-021-02403-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) rarely reveals structural changes in patients with suspected anti-Tr/DNER encephalitis and thus provides very limited information. Here, we combined structural MRI, functional MRI, and positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) findings to characterize this rare disorder in a patient. Case presentation A 43-year-old woman presented with progressive cerebellar ataxia, memory impairment, anxiety, and depression. Anti-Tr antibodies were detected in both her serum (1:10) and cerebrospinal fluid (1:10). A diagnosis of anti-Tr-positive autoimmune cerebellar ataxia was established. The patient’s symptoms were worse, but her brain MRI was normal. Meanwhile, voxel-based morphometry analysis showed bilateral reduced cerebellar volume, especially in the posterior lobe and uvula of the cerebellum and the middle of the left temporal lobe compared with 6 sex- and age-matched healthy subjects (6 females, 43 ± 2 years; p < 0.05). Using seed-based functional connectivity analysis, decreased connectivity between the posterior cingulate cortex/precuneus and left frontal lobe compared to the control group (p < 0.05) was detected. PET-CT revealed bilateral hypometabolism in the cerebellum and relative hypermetabolism in the cerebellar vermis and bilateral frontal lobe, but no malignant changes. Conclusions A combination of structural MRI, functional MRI, and brain PET-CT has higher diagnostic and prognostic value than conventional MRI in patients with suspected anti-Tr/DNER encephalitis. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12883-021-02403-5.
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Bernard JA, Ballard HK, Jackson TB. Cerebellar Dentate Connectivity across Adulthood: A Large-Scale Resting State Functional Connectivity Investigation. Cereb Cortex Commun 2021; 2:tgab050. [PMID: 34527949 PMCID: PMC8436571 DOI: 10.1093/texcom/tgab050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2021] [Revised: 06/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Cerebellar contributions to behavior in advanced age are of interest and importance, given its role in motor and cognitive performance. There are differences and declines in cerebellar structure in advanced age and cerebellar resting state connectivity is lower. However, the work on this area to date has focused on the cerebellar cortex. The deep cerebellar nuclei provide the primary cerebellar inputs and outputs to the cortex, as well as the spinal and vestibular systems. Dentate networks can be dissociated such that the dorsal region is associated with the motor cortex, whereas the ventral aspect is associated with the prefrontal cortex. However, whether dentato-thalamo-cortical networks differ across adulthood remains unknown. Here, using a large adult sample (n = 590) from the Cambridge Center for Ageing and Neuroscience, we investigated dentate connectivity across adulthood. We replicated past work showing dissociable resting state networks in the dorsal and ventral aspects of the dentate. In both seeds, we demonstrated that connectivity is lower with advanced age, indicating that connectivity differences extend beyond the cerebellar cortex. Finally, we demonstrated sex differences in dentate connectivity. This expands our understanding of cerebellar circuitry in advanced age and underscores the potential importance of this structure in age-related performance differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A Bernard
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Hannah K Ballard
- Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Trevor Bryan Jackson
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
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Xie Y, Xi Y, Cui LB, Li C, Xu Y, Zhang Y, Yan Q, Fang P, Yin H. Altered functional connectivity of the dentate nuclei in patients with schizophrenia. Schizophr Res 2021; 233:16-23. [PMID: 34216941 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2021.06.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Dentate nuclei (DN) are vital structures in the anatomical circuits that link the cerebellum to the cerebrum. However, the characteristics of DN functional connectivity (FC) in schizophrenia remain largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the FC of the DN in patients with schizophrenia and examined their possible clinical correlates using resting-state functional magnetic imaging data. We found that the patient group had greater DN FC with the parietal lobe (e.g., postcentral gyrus and superior parietal lobule) and less DN FC with the prefrontal cortex (e.g., superior frontal gyrus), posterior cingulate cortex, and regional cerebellum (e.g., vermis 4-5 and crus I) than did the control group. Furthermore, some abnormal connectivities of the DN with these regions significantly correlated with psychiatric symptoms. These results suggest that the DN circuits are disturbed and may participate in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanjun Xie
- Department of Radiology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yibin Xi
- Department of Radiology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Long-Biao Cui
- Department of Radiology, The Second Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China; Department of Clinical Psychology, School of Medical Psychology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Chen Li
- Department of Radiology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yongqiang Xu
- Department of Radiology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yahong Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medical Psychology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Qinghong Yan
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medical Psychology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Peng Fang
- Department of Military Medical Psychology, School of Medical Psychology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Hong Yin
- Department of Radiology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
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32
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Nie L, Jiang Y, Lv Z, Pang X, Liang X, Chang W, Li J, Zheng J. Deep Cerebellar Nuclei Functional Connectivity with Cerebral Cortex in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy With and Without Focal to Bilateral Tonic-Clonic Seizures: a Resting-State fMRI Study. THE CEREBELLUM 2021; 21:253-263. [PMID: 34164777 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-021-01266-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
We aimed to explore the altered functional connectivity patterns within cerebello-cerebral circuits in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) patients with and without focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizures (FBTCS). Forty-two patients with unilateral TLE (21 with and 21 without FBTCS) and 22 healthy controls were recruited. We chose deep cerebellar nuclei as seed regions, calculated static and dynamic functional connectivity (sFC and dFC) in the patients with and without FBTCS and healthy controls, and compared sFC and dFC among the three groups. Correlation analyses were used to assess relationships between the significantly altered imaging features and patient clinical parameters. Compared to the group without FBTCS, the FBTCS group showed decreased sFC between the right dentate nuclei and left hemisphere regions including the middle frontal gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, superior medial frontal gyrus and posterior cingulate gyrus, and significantly increased dFC between the right interposed nuclei and contralateral precuneus. Relative to HCs, the FBTCS group demonstrated prominently decreased sFC between the right dentate nuclei and left middle frontal gyrus. No significant correlations between the altered imaging features and patient clinical parameters were observed. Our results suggest that the disrupted cerebello-cerebral FC might be related to cognitive impairment, epileptogenesis, and propagation of epileptic activities in patients with FBTCS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liluo Nie
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Yanchun Jiang
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Zongxia Lv
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Xiaomin Pang
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Xiulin Liang
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Weiwei Chang
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Jian Li
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Jinou Zheng
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China.
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33
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Tang F, Zhu D, Ma W, Yao Q, Li Q, Shi J. Differences Changes in Cerebellar Functional Connectivity Between Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease: A Seed-Based Approach. Front Neurol 2021; 12:645171. [PMID: 34220669 PMCID: PMC8248670 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.645171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Recent studies have discovered that functional connections are impaired among patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), even at the preclinical stage. The cerebellum has been implicated as playing a role in cognitive processes. However, functional connectivity (FC) among cognitive sub-regions of the cerebellum in patients with AD and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) remains to be further elucidated. Objective: Our study aims to investigate the FC changes of the cerebellum among patients with AD and MCI, compared to healthy controls (HC). Additionally, we explored the role of cerebellum FC changes in the cognitive performance of all subjects. Materials: Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data from three different groups (28 AD patients, 26 MCI patients, and 30 HC) was collected. We defined cerebellar crus II and lobule IX as seed regions to assess the intragroup differences of cortico-cerebellar connectivity. Bias correlational analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between changes in FC and neuropsychological performance. Results: Compared to HC, AD patients had decreased FC within the caudate, limbic lobe, medial frontal gyrus (MFG), middle temporal gyrus, superior frontal gyrus, parietal lobe/precuneus, inferior temporal gyrus, and posterior cingulate gyrus. Interestingly, MCI patients demonstrated increased FC within inferior parietal lobe, and MFG, while they had decreased FC in the thalamus, inferior frontal gyrus, and superior frontal gyrus. Further analysis indicated that FC changes between the left crus II and the right thalamus, as well as between left lobule IX and the right parietal lobe, were both associated with cognitive decline in AD. Disrupted FC between left crus II and right thalamus, as well as between left lobule IX and right parietal lobe, was associated with attention deficit among subjects with MCI. Conclusion: These findings indicate that cortico-cerebellar FC in MCI and AD patients was significantly disrupted with different distributions, particularly in the default mode networks (DMN) and fronto-parietal networks (FPN) region. Increased activity within the fronto-parietal areas of MCI patients indicated a possible compensatory role for the cerebellum in cognitive impairment. Therefore, alterations in the cortico-cerebellar FC represent a novel approach for early diagnosis and a potential therapeutic target for early intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanyu Tang
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Donglin Zhu
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenying Ma
- Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qun Yao
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qian Li
- Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jingping Shi
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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34
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Functional connectivity of cerebellar dentate nucleus and cognitive impairments in patients with drug-naive and first-episode schizophrenia. Psychiatry Res 2021; 300:113937. [PMID: 33895443 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.113937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Cognitive impairments are the hallmark of schizophrenia and prominent in the early episode stage. However, the underlying pathological mechanisms of cognitive impairments are not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the abnormal functional connectivity (FC) of the cerebellar dentate nucleus (DN) and its correlation with cognitive impairments in patients with drug-naive and first-episode schizophrenia. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired in 47 patients and 43 healthy controls. Cognitive functions were assessed by number sequence span, verbal category fluency, digit-symbol coding tests. The results showed that the patients had deficits in all three cognitive tests compared to the controls. Furthermore, the increased FC of DN with the bilateral postcentral gyrus and decreased FC of DN with the right inferior temporal gyrus and regional cerebellum (e.g., Vermis 4-5 and Crus I) were observed in the patient group compared to the control group. Importantly, these abnormal DN FC significantly correlated with cognitive tests (e.g., number sequence span and digit-symbol coding) and clinical symptoms (e.g., negative symptom) in the patient group. The results suggested that abnormal FC of DN with cortical and subcortical regions was associated with cognitive impairments and symptom severity and might be an underlying neural mechanism in schizophrenia.
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35
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Pagen LHG, van de Ven VG, Gronenschild EHBM, Priovoulos N, Verhey FRJ, Jacobs HIL. Contributions of Cerebro-Cerebellar Default Mode Connectivity Patterns to Memory Performance in Mild Cognitive Impairment. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 75:633-647. [PMID: 32310164 PMCID: PMC7458511 DOI: 10.3233/jad-191127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The cerebral default mode network (DMN) can be mapped onto specific regions in the cerebellum, which are specifically vulnerable to atrophy in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. OBJECTIVE We set out to determine whether there are specific differences in the interaction between the cerebral and cerebellar DMN in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) patients compared to healthy controls using resting-state functional MRI and whether these differences are relevant for memory performance. METHODS Eighteen patients with aMCI were age and education-matched to eighteen older adults and underwent 3T MR-imaging. We performed seed-based functional connectivity analysis between the cerebellar DMN seeds and the cerebral DMN. RESULTS Our results showed that compared to healthy older adults, aMCI patients showed lower anti-correlation between the cerebellar DMN and several cerebral DMN regions. Additionally, we showed that degradation of the anti-correlation between the cerebellar DMN and the medial frontal cortex is correlated with worse memory performance in aMCI patients. CONCLUSION These findings provide evidence that the cerebellar DMN and cerebral DMN are negatively correlated during rest in older individuals, and suggest that the reduced anti-correlated impacts the modulatory role of the cerebellum on cognitive functioning, in particular on the executive component of memory functions in neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda H G Pagen
- Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences, Alzheimer Centre Limburg, School of Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Vincent G van de Ven
- Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Ed H B M Gronenschild
- Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences, Alzheimer Centre Limburg, School of Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Nikos Priovoulos
- Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences, Alzheimer Centre Limburg, School of Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Frans R J Verhey
- Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences, Alzheimer Centre Limburg, School of Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Heidi I L Jacobs
- Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences, Alzheimer Centre Limburg, School of Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.,Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.,Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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36
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Zhou Z, Zhu R, Shao W, Zhang SJ, Wang L, Ding XJ, Peng DT. Changes in Resting-State Functional Connectivity of Cerebellum in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease: A Case-Control Study. Front Syst Neurosci 2021; 15:596221. [PMID: 33790747 PMCID: PMC8006280 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2021.596221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This case-control study is aimed to investigate the correlation of altered functional connectivity (FC) in cerebellum with cognitive impairment in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The morphometric and resting-state FC MRI analysis including 46 participants with AD, 32 with aMCI and 42 age-matched normal controls (NCs) were conducted. We compared the cerebellar gray matter volume and cerebellar FC with cerebral cortical regions among three groups. To investigate the relationship of cerebellar FC with cognition, we measure the correlation of significant altered FC and individual cognitive domain. No significant morphometric differences of cerebellum was observed across three groups. The patients with AD had weaker cerebral cortical FCs in bilateral Crus I and left VIIb compared to NCs, and in bilateral Crus I compared to patients with aMCI. For patients with aMCI, the weaker FC were found between right Crus I, left VIIb and cerebral cortical regions compared to NCs. The strength of left cerebellar FC positively correlated with specific cognitive subdomains, including memory, executive function, visuospatial function, and global cognition in AD and aMCI. These findings demonstrated the alteration of cerebellar FC with cerebral cortical regions, and the correlation of cerebellar FC and cognitive impairment in AD and aMCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Zhou
- Department of Neurology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Rui Zhu
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Geriatric Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Wen Shao
- Department of Neurology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Shu-Juan Zhang
- Department of Neurology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Neurology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xue-Jiao Ding
- Department of Neurology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Dan-Tao Peng
- Department of Neurology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
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37
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Di Lorenzo F, Bonnì S, Picazio S, Motta C, Caltagirone C, Martorana A, Koch G. Effects of Cerebellar Theta Burst Stimulation on Contralateral Motor Cortex Excitability in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease. Brain Topogr 2020; 33:613-617. [PMID: 32564167 DOI: 10.1007/s10548-020-00781-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Although the cerebellum is not among the most renowned brain structures affected in Alzheimer`s disease (AD), recent evidence suggest that it undergoes degenerative changes during the course of the disease. A main neurophysiological feature of AD patients is the remarkable impairment of long term potentiation (LTP)-like cortical plasticity assessed in the primary motor cortex (M1) using theta burst stimulation (TBS) protocols. In healthy conditions, continuous (cTBS) and intermittent TBS (iTBS) of the cerebellum induce respectively long term depression (LTD)-like and LTP-like after effects in the contralateral M1. Here we aimed at examining the effects of cerebellar TBS on contralateral M1 excitability in a sample of 15 AD patients and 12 healthy age matched controls (HS). Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) were obtained in the contralateral M1 before and after cerebellar cTBS and iTBS protocols. As compared to HS, AD patients showed an impairment of LTP-like cortical plasticity mechanisms following cerebellar iTBS. No difference was observed for the cTBS protocol, in which both populations exhibited the expected LTD-like after effect. This study shows that mechanisms of cerebellar-cortical plasticity are impaired in AD. Given its role in high order cognitive functions, new potential therapeutic strategies could be built up in the future to modulate neural activity in the cerebellum in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Di Lorenzo
- Non-invasive Brain Stimulation Unit, Department of Behavioural and Clinical Neurology, Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179, Rome, Italy
| | - Sonia Bonnì
- Non-invasive Brain Stimulation Unit, Department of Behavioural and Clinical Neurology, Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Picazio
- Non-invasive Brain Stimulation Unit, Department of Behavioural and Clinical Neurology, Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179, Rome, Italy
| | - Caterina Motta
- Non-invasive Brain Stimulation Unit, Department of Behavioural and Clinical Neurology, Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179, Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Caltagirone
- Non-invasive Brain Stimulation Unit, Department of Behavioural and Clinical Neurology, Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Martorana
- Non-invasive Brain Stimulation Unit, Department of Behavioural and Clinical Neurology, Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179, Rome, Italy.,Department of System Medicine, Tor Vergata University, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Giacomo Koch
- Non-invasive Brain Stimulation Unit, Department of Behavioural and Clinical Neurology, Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179, Rome, Italy. .,Section of Human Physiology, eCampus University, Novedrate, Italy.
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